Not only was August the month for the Olympics, and Hawaii was well-represented in the medal-winner circle, but Waipahu just won the Little League World Series Aug. 24.At the Olympics, Natasha Kai of Kahuku, with the US Women's Soccer Team, won the gold; the US Women's VolleyBall team won gold with 2 former UH stars; Clay Stanley with the US men's volleyball team won gold; Brandon Brooks won silver in water polo; the women's volleyball team with 4 Hawaii athletes won silver; and Brian Clay of Kane'ohe won the Decathlon Gold Medal - earning the title "World's Greatest Athlete."
Clay competed in 10 events over a 36-hour period through driving rain and hot humid conditions. Only 26 men finished from a field of 40. Clay never trailed in any of the events, and won by 240 points, the largest margin of victory since 1972. He joins an all-star groups of names like Jim Thorpe, Bob Mathias, and Rafer Johnson.
Hawaii sent 18 athletes to the Olympics, and 2/3 returned with medals. According to the Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii's athletes - those who grew up in Hawaii and have ties to Hawaii, mostly through the University of Hawaii - "won more Olympic medals in the past 16 days than they have in the past 50 years. More than most countries."
Those achievements put Hawaii and Oahu on the map for athletic ability, and for pure joy add in yesterday's stunning victory by Waipahu over Matamoros, Mexico 12-3 in the Little League World Series. For only the 2nd time in series history, a team scored each inning in the title game. Wearing leis and smiles after the win, the press reported the Hawaii players as a "tired and soft-spoken bunch." Shane Victorino, Phillies' centerfielder from Hawaii said, "They gave 100 percent every game . . . It definitely exemplifies what Hawaii is all about."
Congratulations to our Hawaiian athletes!
Barbara Abe, REALTOR
Hawaii Kai is my Home
